Pencil construction



Feb. 15, 1944. w. E. HOFFMANN PENCIL CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. .17, 1942 Patented Feb. 15, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PENCIL CONSTRUCTION William E. maman, Unimsn-.yY citano.

Application January 17, leia'setiaifivu. @127;112l

n (C1. 12e-use) Claims.

The present invention relates generally to pen-V cils and more particularly to novel pencil and pencil lengthener constructions.

An object of the present invention is to pro-` vide a novel pencil construction which is economical in the initial use'of graphite and which is adapted to be substantially used up in Writing.

Another object is to provide a novel pencil lengthener which is adapted to give added use to pencils and which is adapted to prevent, de-v which includes an eraser mounted by means ol?A an internal connection;

Another object is to provide a novel pencil oiA standard 'consumable construction which incorporates a removable replaceable eraser.

Another object is to provide a novel pencil and pencil lengthener construction for utilizing the'v full graphite content of the pencil without injury to the lengthener, or to the cutter of the pencil Sharpener.

Another object is to provide a novel pencil and pencil lengthener construction in which the lengthener is attached to the pencil by means of the normal eraser support and in Which the lengthener incorporates means for carrying the normal eraser of the pencil.

Another object is to provide a novel pencil and pencil lengthener construction in which the initial amount of graphite employed is less than that in a standard pencil and in which substantially the Whole graphite content of the pencil is available for Writing purposes.

Other objects and advantages are apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a pencil constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a View of the pencil shown in Fig. 1 reduced to stub size through sharpening;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a pencil lengthenr constructed in accordance With the teachings of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the lengthener shown in Fig. 4 and the pencil stub shown in' Fig. 2 operatively engaged for writing purposes;

Fig. 6 is a view partly in central section and partly in plan of the pencil stub and pencil lengthener construction shown in Fig. 5;

' or' eraser supporting member; and

Fig. 8'is a View of the pencil and pencillen'gth-vv ener construction disposed in the opening of a pencil'sha-rpener. i y Y Referring to the dra-Wing more particularly by reference numerals, II) indicates generally apencil constructed in accordance with the teach@y ings of the present invention which includes a body I I, graphite I2` (Fig. 3), an eraser support ingr member I3, andan eraser I4. Y

The member I3 includes spiral threadsl I6 Which terminate-'a short distance from the upper end- Il ofthe body II at a junction with an axial thread I8. Al reduced portionv I9 of the member I3 occupies the upper'portion of the boreV 20" receiving the graphite I2. and is enlarged slightl,7 at 2l to form an anchor for the mem-Y ber I3.

Referring to Figs; 4;-7, Zindicates generally a pencil lengthener constructed in accordance with the teachings of theA present invention. The

lengthener 25' includesA a body portion having an enlargement 2l spacedfrom one end 28:

eraser supporting member 29 identical externally with the member I3, which, therefore, requires no particular description, extends from the other end 30 of the body 26. The portion 26, the enlargement 21, and the member 29 preferably are an integral unit, as of plastic, although they may be separate elements. When separate, member 29 may be anchored in any suitable manner. In the end 28 is a threaded well 32 (Fig. 6), the threading terminating short of the actual face of the end 28, providing an enlarged non-threaded portion 33.

In use, the pencil ID becomes gradually shorter through sharpening until it becomes a stub as is illustrated by Fig. 2. At this stage, the stub is dilcult to use, for it is too short for the hand. Since the pencil Iil is constructed with the member I3 supporting the eraser Ill, the eraser Ill is removed and the pencil lengthener 25 is applied to the member I3 by the simple threading operaation afforded through the threads of the Well 32 engaging the threads I6 of the member i3. The enlargement 33 of the well 32 obviates interference with the axial thread I8. The eraser Ill is then placed on the support 29. The pencil and pencil lengthener forms a cooperative Construction to assure further comfortable use of the stub pencil.

Furthermore, the stub pencil may be sharpened in a pencil Sharpener of a type such as the electrical Sharpener 35 shown in Fig. 8 as the point becomes dull, and this sharpening may be eiected without fear of injuring the cutters since the enlargement 21 prevents the pencil I0 and pencil lengthener 25 from progressing into the opening of the pencil sharpener 35 beyond a predetermined point, Which point manifestly prohibits contact of the member I3 and the end of the body 26 with the cutters.

It is to be observed that the axial thread I8 of the member I3 provides a lock for the eraser I4 thereby preventing accidental removal of the eraser I4. The resilience of the material of the eraser I4 cooperates with the axial thread I8 to prevent an unscrewing action unless a sufcient force is applied.

It is also to be noted that the reduced extremity I 9 of the member I3 occupies a portion of the bore receiving the graphite I2, thereby effecting economy in the graphite employed initially in the construction of the pencil I0. It is clear that even with a lengthener 25 as shown, this portion of graphite replaced by the reduced extremity I9 could not be. sharpened for use in any mechanical Sharpeners now in use.

The enlargement 21 combines comfort with its stopping function. It is streamlined to reduce any distorting eiect due to the greater diameter thereof.

Since the eraser I4 is not sheathed in any respect, it may be used sidewise or from the end. With soft erasers, it is quite often handy to employ the side portion in erasing. With the present construction, there is no danger of cutting the sheet, or the like, in using the side of the eraser since exterior metal is not employed. Hence, a maximum of the eraser I4 is afforded.

It is, of course, apparent that certain changes in form and material may be effected Without departing from the present invention. A

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing are given by Way of illustration and example and not for purposes of limitation, the invention being deined by the claims Which follow.

I claim:

1. A pencil lengthener comprising a body, means at one end to receive a pencil, and stop means connected to the body spaced from the said one end adapted to limit the travel of the lengthener into the receiving opening of a pencil Sharpener.

2. A pencil lengthener comprising a body, means at one end to receive a pencil, said means comprising a well which is threaded to within a predetermined distance from the extreme outexend thereof, and stop means'connected to the body spaced from the said one end adapted to limit the travel of the lengthener into the receiving opening of a pencil Sharpener.

3=. A pencil lengthener comprising a body, means at one end of the body to receive a pencil, and an enlargement connected to the body spaced from the said one end of the body adapted to limit the travel of the lengthener into the receiving opening of a pencil Sharpener.

4. A pencil comprising a body, a member connected to one end of the body by extending a predetermined distance into the area normally occupied by the graphite, said member including spiral threads to within a short distance from the end of the body and an axial portion of thread from such point to the body, said spiral and axial threading being adapted to receive an eraser in locking relation.

5. A pencil comprising a body, a member, and a connecting means, said body being secured to said connecting means by the extension of one end of said connecting means a predetermined distance into the area of said body normally occupied by the graphite, said connecting means including spiral threads to Wtihin a short distance from the end of said body and an axial portion of thread from such point to the body, said spiral and axial threads being adapted to receive said member in locking relation, and thereby connecting said body and said member in secure relationship.

WILLIAM E. HOFFMANN. 

